The Arakawa Line
The Toden Arakawa Line, a.k.a. the Tokyo Sakura Tram, is one of only two streetcar, or tram lines that survive in Tokyo. The other streetcar line is the Tokyu Setagaya Line. It operates in northern and eastern Tokyo outside the main tourist areas, so riding it offers a glimpse into uncommon neighborhoods.
Before the first subway was built in Tokyo (the Ginza Line, in 1927), streetcars were the ubiquitous kings of public transportation here. It was an interesting ride. Every time the engine engaged there was a distinctive “Clang, clang!” of the bell. I dreamed of older technology and a bygone world, a century-old, pre-war world. I imagined Waseda University students riding the tram in all weathers and seasons down to the Waseda Station terminal, wearing clothes not made form synthetic fabrics. Other cities in the world run streetcar systems today, but in Tokyo it’s a relic from another time, a living fossil.
I’ve known about the existence of the Arakawa Line for 34 years, but I never rode it until Friday, February 23, 2024, because it is nowhere near where I need to go. But I finally decided to try it out.